Chionophila jamesii
Prodr. 10: 331. 1846.
Stems 1 or 2(or 3), (3–)5–12(–15) cm, puberulent or retrorsely hairy, sometimes glabrate. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline, blade oblanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate or spatulate, 12–78 × 2–18 mm, surfaces glabrous or glabrate; cauline 1–3 pairs, blade narrowly lanceolate to linear, 8–28 × 1–3 mm. Racemes 1–5 cm, verticillasters 2–7, continuous, sparsely puberulent and, usually, sparsely glandular-puberulent; bracts ovate to lanceolate, proximal ones 8–19 × 4–7 mm. Pedicels 0–4 mm, glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent. Flowers: caly× tube 8–9 mm, sparsely glandular-puberulent, lobes triangular, 1.5–2.5 × 2–2.5 mm; corolla greenish white or creamy white, 10–15 mm, glabrous externally, palate and proximal parts of abaxial limb densely white-lanate, hairs to 1.5 mm, tube 3–4 mm, pollen sacs 0.5–0.6 mm, explanate; staminode 5–7 mm; style 10–12 mm. Capsules 8–9.5 × 4.5–6 mm. Seeds tan to brown, ellipsoid to fusiform with tail on each end, 3–4.2 mm. 2n = 16.
Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Gravelly slopes, alpine meadows, subalpine bogs.
Elevation: 3300–4100 m.
Distribution
Colo., N.Mex., Wyo.
Discussion
Chionophila jamesii occurs in the central Rocky Mountains from the Medicine Bow Mountains of south-central Wyoming to the Culebra Range in Taos County in north-central New Mexico.
Selected References
None.